June 2025 marks significant milestones for the United States military. Last Saturday marked the 250th anniversary of the US Army, which was commemorated with a high-profile parade in Washington, DC. Additionally, there are two noteworthy dates for the United States Air Force.

June 29 marks the 40th anniversary of the arrival of the B-1B Lancer at Dyess Air Force Base (AFB), Texas. The very first B-ONE, “The Star of Abilene,” was delivered, marking a new era for the base.

The B-1B’s unveiling came 30 years after the aircraft it was intended to replace, the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, which officially entered service in June 1955.

When Was the B-52’s “Birthday”? It’s Complicated

Dates with aircraft are complex. The B-52 took its maiden flight three years earlier on April 15, 1952, but the Air Force Materiel Command History Office noted that June 29, 2025, will mark “the 70th anniversary of the first operational Strategic Air Command (SAC) B-52 Stratofortress” with the “delivery to the 93rd........

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